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" Bugger "

Stanton Slackline (gen 3)

What I am reading.

What I am riding.

2011

2017

2023

What are we before our memories?

https://www.stantonbikes.com/

Riding the front triangle

2014 Scott Scale (and some modern XC bikes)

"heavy feet, light hands"

Forward-biased geometry..

2021 Stanton Slackline (and the vast majority of modern trail bikes)

Forward-biased geometry (longer reach, slacker head angle, steeper seat angle - combined with shorter stems + wider bars) repositions the optimal riding position towards the front of the bicycle while keeping the rider well behind the front axle. This encourages a forward weight distribution allowing the elbows, shoulders and trunk to play a bigger role in how the bike handles. The combination of factors that give a bicycle forward-bias do not actually increase the front-to-back “working space” of the rider as the longer reach is negated by the convergence of head angle and seat angle. What it does is make the available space more useable.

Despite the Slackline having a 4cm longer reach (and 4cm wider bars) than the Scale the distance between the bum position on the saddle and the hand position on the bars is actually 3cm longer on the Scott Scale. This is partly because the Slackline has a 3cm taller stack but mostly because the riding style for this bike requires a relatively short horizontal span between the bars and bottom bracket in order to unleash the rider’s ability to huck his torso all over the front triangle. Better control sometimes means the rider’s shoulders and chest sit way forward over the bars rather than behind it. In other words, modern geo in the form of a Gen 3 Slackline takes the idiomatic “heavy feet, light hands”, messes it up, and adds a healthy dose of sideways movement for good measure. There are more progressive geometries out there (longer, slacker, lower BB) but for the terrain I ride the Slackline has just the right mix of playfulness, stability and capability. I guess I could fit a dropper post and gain some useable rearward space and the ability to lower my centre of gravity. But that would add complexity, weight and the hassle of doing squats for saddle management. 

If you are looking to simplify your ride then a longer (but not too long) travel fork provides a good compromise when moving across from a full suspension rig to a hardtail. The forward body position allows the rider to more or less “ride the fork”. Fatter (but not too fat) tires also help. 

It works. I really like it.

Plaza de Oriente, Madrid

muchas gracias